Submit Applications for City Partnership Grant Program 2026–2027 (Australia)

City Partnerships are for well-planned projects and programs which may occur over multiple financial years. The successful applicants will be well-established organisations that have a proven record of delivering relevant programs, projects or activities.

Objectives

• The City Partnerships Program seeks to respond to community needs and advance Council’s strategic objectives through funding and agreed priorities.
• Specifically, the Program aims to create partnerships that progress Council’s strategic priorities as expressed in the Council Plan, Health and Wellbeing Plan and other relevant plans and strategies in the following broad areas:
  • A city that conserves its heritage and enhances their natural, cultural and built assets
  • A city that fosters sustainable growth
  • A healthy, safe, connected and welcoming community for all
  • A strong and innovative local economy and city
  • A Council that provides leadership and advocates for its community
  • An environmentally and financially sustainable future.

Funding Streams

• There are two funding streams available:
  • Community Stream
    • Available for not-for-profit organisations
    • Organisations must be based in Ballarat
    • Outcomes must deliver benefit to Ballarat municipality
    • Focus on Community Benefit
    • Assessment based on alignment with Council Plan, Project Need, Use of Local Suppliers,
    • Community Benefit (participation rates and community inclusion), Value for Money, Contribution from Applicant.
    • Funding up to $100,000 per applicant per financial year
    • Maximum funding term for the 2026/27 Program is three (3) years, concluding 30 June 2029
  • Commercial Stream
    • Open to businesses and not-for-profit organisations
    • Outcomes must deliver benefit to Ballarat municipality
    • Focus on Economic Return on Investment for the benefit of the Ballarat community
    • Assessment based on alignment with current Council Plan, Project Need or opportunity, Economic Return on Investment, Community Benefit (community inclusion).
    • Funding of greater than $20,000 (no upper limit)
    • Maximum funding term for the 2026/27 Program is three (3) years, concluding 30 June 2029.

Eligible Activities

• Any projects or activities that aligns to and builds on the City of Ballarat objectives, and benefits the Ballarat municipality, are eligible to apply for funding.

Ineligible Activities

• The following activities are not eligible to apply for funding through the City Partnerships Program:
  • Activities deemed to not align with Council policies, priorities or values
  • Activities that are the clear responsibility of other levels of government or other local government areas
  • Activities that occur outside of the Ballarat municipality with no clear evidence that the activity will involve and support a significant amount of people from the municipality
  • Activities that are deemed to be duplicating existing services in the community
  • Activities that have a primary purpose to raise funds
  • Applications seeking to fund activities retrospectively
  • Activities which focus on or promote unhealthy food, sugary drinks, alcohol consumption, gambling, tobacco, e-cigarette or vaping industries
  • Activities that are deemed ongoing salaries that have been in place prior to or will continue beyond the project. However, the grant can fund contractor staffing for a project with a start and end date. This must be clearly specified in the Expressions of Interest phase to be successful.

Eligibility Criteria

• Not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply to both the community and commercial funding options. Only businesses are eligible to apply for the commercial funding option.
• Applicants applying to the community funding option must be based in Ballarat.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following are ineligible to apply for the City Partnerships Program:
  • Organisations that are not registered legal entities
  • Organisations are limited to one live City Partnership funding agreement at any given time.
  • Organisations or businesses with a political purpose
  • Government departments or agencies
  • Organisations with an outstanding debt to the City of Ballarat
  • Organisations that have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of any previous funding agreement with City of Ballarat
  • For-profit entities owned by City of Ballarat employees and their immediate family members
  • Individuals

For more information, visit City of Ballarat.